Golf stance device

ABSTRACT

A golf stance guide comprising an elongate member to which indicator dials are attached. Cords normally stored within the elongate member are attached at either end respectively to a golfer&#39;&#39;s shoe and a dial so that the left-right dial readings indicating previously successful stances may be consistently repeated.

United States Patent 11 1 Kamarauskas [4 1 Jan. 2, 1973 s41 GOLF STANCEDEVICE 2,180,170 11/1939 Richards ..273/187 R 2,606,026 19/1952 [76]Inventor: Walter M. Kamarauskas, Warren 3 459 429 8/1969 i Mokena, 604483,627,328 12/1971 Becker ..273/l87 R Primary Examiner-George J. MarloAttorney-Robert J. Doherty [57 ABSTRACT A golf stance guide comprisingan elongate member to which indicator dials are attached. Cords normallystored within the elongate member are attached at either endrespectively to a golfers shoe and a dial so that the left-right dialreadings indicating previously successful stances may be consistentlyrepeated.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures RIGHT FOOT READING [22] Filed: Jan. 31, 1972[21] Appl. No.: 221,922

[52] US. Cl. ..273/l87 R, 273/DIG. 21 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 69/36 [58]Field of Search ..273/l87, 183, 195; 33/174 F [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,562,744 11/1925 Dillow ..273/DIG. 21

LEFT FOOT READlNG II 1 READING 6 I LEFT FOOT GOLF STANCE DEVICEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a golf stanceguide. A proper stance, that is, the alignment of a golfers feet inrelationship to each other and to the ball being addressed is animportant factor upon which the execution of a successful drive or othergolf stroke depends. The stance assumed by a golfer is important toproper balance in striking the ball effectively and furthermore enablesproper weight shift which is an essential part of the swing. For eachclub, and depending on whether the golfer is short or tall, male orfemale, heavy or light, the stance assumed will be different in relationto the ball. Also, stances may be open or closed, more off one foot thanthe other and other such position factors depending on suchconsiderations as the lie of the ball and whether or not the golferdesires to slice or hook the ball away from its normal straight line offlight for some particular purpose such as may occur on dog-leg holes orwhen attempting to overcome a tree or other obstruction on the course.

The present invention provides a device which serves to indicate and,therefore, guide the various relationships between the golfers feet,line of sight, and the distance from the ball. With this device, thegolfer, when arriving at a comfortable'and effective stance based uponactual experience in swinging and hitting the ball, may quickly note thefoot relationship of such successful stance from this device for use insimilar future shots where the same stance would be desirable.

Stance positioning devices are known as evidenced by U. S. Pat. Nos.3,459,429, 3,041,075, 3,384,377, 3,229,981 and others. Primarily thesedevices enable a golfer to guide his swing stance in relationship to theball by initially placing portions of the device such as foot contactingelements or measuring portions in a prescribed position and distancerelationship and thereafter placing the feet in such positions. Thus, acord is utilized for such purpose in U. S. Pat. No. 3,229,981 and anextensible and measured tape in U. S. Pat. No; 3,459,429.

The device of the present invention differs from these known devicesinasmuch as the measure actuation means thereofv attaches to portions ofthe golfers shoes so that the swing stance maybe adjusted by convenientreference to measurement dials close to the ball being addressed andthus in line of sight of the golfer while addressing the ball. Thisenables a golfer to address the ball in a comfortable stance and thenobserve the right-left foot positioning of the stance without breakingconcentration to physically measure such stance as required by prior artdevices.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novelcombinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear inthe course of the following description, which is based on theaccompanying drawing. However, said drawing merely shows, and thefollowing description merely describes, preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, which are given by way of illustration or exampleonly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The golf stance guide of the present inventioncomprises an elongate tubular member on which stance indicator means 12comprising separate left foot and BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Inthe drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts ofseveral views.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the golf stance guide of the present inventionin extended, operative position,

FIG. 2 is a partial side view thereof, and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view of a portion of the present golfstance guide taken along lines 33 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The golf stance guide of thepresent invention includes an elongate member or tube 10. The tube 10 isprovided with stance indicator means 12 and measure actuation means 14.The stance indicator means 12 including dials 13 is preferably mountedon the forward end of the tube 10, that is, the end adapted forplacement in proximity to the ball being addressed by the golfer, andthe measure actuation means 14 is operatedly associated with both thetube 10 and the stance indicator means 12 so that modifications'in thefoot placement (stance) of the golfer either left or right of the ballwill be concurrently indicated on the stance indicator dials 13 withinplain view of the golfer as he addresses the ball.

The tube 10 is formed of a suitable material to withstand golf courseweather conditions such as aluminum, polypropylene or polyethylene. Thetube 10 is preferably hollow so as to provide internally thereof aprotected passageway for the measure actuation means 14 comprising cords16 preferably of different colors to distinguish between left and rightfoot actuation means of the device. Tube 10 is open at one end and isfurther provided with a pointer 18 calibrated in inches so that byknowing the length of the tube 10 the overall distance from the open end11 of the tube and the ball being addressed may be accuratelydetermined. The pointer 18 is further retractable to the housing of thetube 10.

The tube is further provided with a plate 20 connected by known meanssuch as welding or clamps to the body of the tube at the forward endthereof and extending laterally to eachside thereof. The plate isprovided on each side thereof with mounting means comprisingscrewopenings 22 in order that the measure actuation means 14 may beattached thereto. The stance indicator means 12 illustrated is comprisedof left and right dials 13 which in turn are in part comprised of leftand right support members 28 attached to the plate 20 through openings22 by means of screws 26. Each support 28 is further provided with acentral upstanding boss for a receipt of a hub member 30 which in turnserves to encompass a spring member 32 such as a wound or flat spring.The left cord 16 is attached to the outer surface 34 of the hub member30. The spring 32 serves to exert a continuing retraction force on eachof the cords 16. Each cord 16 is in turn threaded through openings 36provided on the sides of the tube 10, continue through the hollowportion of the tube and extend out the rear opening thereof. Each cordis at the opposite ends thereof provided with'fastening means 38 forattachment to the shoes of the golfer utilizing the stance positioningguide of the present invention. The fastening means 38 may take the formof a U-shaped clip not shown) to which a cord is connected thereto. Theleg of the clip unattached to the cord is adapted for insertion over theshoe of the golfer. Also the cord may simply be attached to the heel ofthe shoe'by means of a tack or a loop provided at the cord end forconnection with one of the cleats provided on the heel of the golfshoes.

The upper face of the hub member 30 is further provided with a facia 40having measurement indicia thereon. A protective face or cover 42 forconnection to the support 28 so as to provide protection to the internalportions of each of the measure of stance indica tor means 12 is alsoprovided. The cover is preferably formed of a transparent plastic.

A peg or point .44 is attached to the central bottom portion of theplate 20 so that the device may be inserted into the golf playingsurface, i.e., ground, for operation in the following manner: The guideis placed between the golfer and ball being addressed whereupon thepoint 44 is inserted into the playing surface to fix the position of theguide relative to the ball. An additional point (preferably retractable)may be provided for play in sandy or other type surfaces where unduepivotal movement of the tube would occur. If required, the pointer 18 isextended to approximately align the ball to be addressed normal to theplane of the golfers stance. The fastening means 38 are connected to thegolfers shoes. The golfer adjusts his stance until the readings both forthe left and right foot on the dials 13 (a zero reading would be onewherein the golfers heels were together and no left or right readingindicated, i.e., when the cords 16 extend no further than the open end11 of the tube 10) corrolate with those readings which have met withsuccess inplaying similar shots. in the past. In this way then a simpleand easily utilized device is provided whereby past experience andpractice on the course as to the particular placement of the left andright feet of the golfer in relationship to the ball being addressed andwhich has met with 7 success can be repeated time and time again thusenhancing the pleasure and realiability of the golfers ame.

While the foregoing is illustrated and described what i to said tube, 2.Support means attached to said tube proximate to the other end thereof,

. lndicator means mounted on said support means, said indicator meanscomprising at least one dial mounted on said support means, and,

. Measure actuation means operatively associated with said indicatormeans and attachable to the shoe of the golfer utilizing the guide,whereby movement of said shoe in stance adjustment registers on saidindicator means.

2. The golf stance device of claim 1 wherein said support means extendson opposite sides of said tube and wherein a pair of dials arerespectively mounted on either side of said support means.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein each dial comprises a hub member andspring means for biasing said hub member to a zero dial position on eachof said dials.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said measure actuation means comprisesa first cord attached to one of said hub members and a second -cordattached to the other of said .hub members, both said cords runningthrough the body of said hollow tube and extending out the open endthereof.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein a U-shaped clip is attached to therunning end of each of said cords, each of said clips attachable to agolf shoe.

6. The golf stance device of claim 1 wherein said dial includes a hubmember and spring means for biasing said hub member to a zero dialposition.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said means for temporarily positioningthe tube comprises a point mounted on the bottom of said support.

8. The golf stance device of claim 1 wherein said measure actuationmeans comprises at least one cord attached to said indicator means atone end'thereof, said cord further extending'through saidtubeandattachable to said shoe at the other end thereof.

18 i I i

1. A golf stance guide comprising: a. A hollow tube open at least at oneend thereof, said tube having,
 1. Means for temporarily fixing theposition of said tube in relationship to a playing surface attached tosaid tube,
 2. The golf stance device of claim 1 wherein said supportmeans extends on opposite sides of said tube and wherein a pair of dialsare respectively mounted on either side of said support means. 2.Support means attached to said tube proximate to the other end thereof,b. Indicator means mounted on said support means, said indicator meanscomprising at least one dial mounted on said support means, and, c.Measure actuation means operatively associated with said indicator meansand attachable to the shoe of the golfer utilizing the guide, wherebymovement of said shoe in stance adjustment registers on said indicatormeans.
 2. Support means attached to said tube proximate to the other endthereof, b. Indicator means mounted on said support means, saidindicator means comprising at least one dial mounted on said supportmeans, and, c. Measure actuation means operatively associated with saidindicator means and attachable to the shoe of the golfer utilizing theguide, whereby movement of said shoe in stance adjustment registers onsaid indicator means.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein each dialcomprises a hub member and spring means for biasing said hub member to azero dial position on each of said dials.
 4. The device of claim 3wherein said measure actuation means comprises a first cord attached toone of said hub members and a second cord attached to the other of saidhub members, both said cords running through the body of said hollowtube and extending out the open end thereof.
 5. The device of claim 4wherein a U-shaped clip is attached to the running end of each of saidcords, each of said clips attachable to a golf shoe.
 6. The golf stancedevice of claim 1 wherein said dial includes a hub member and springmeans for biasing said hub member to a zero dial position.
 7. The deviceof claim 6 wherein said means for temporarily positioning the tubecomprises a point mounted on the bottom of said support.
 8. The golfstance device of claim 1 wherein said measure actuation means comprisesat least one cord attached to said indicator means at one end thereof,said cord further extending through said tube and attachable to saidshoe at the other end thereof.